India overpowered Bangladesh in the first T20I game of Gwalior, chasing 128 inside 12 overs. Fielding a team with two debutants and a host of new faces, this display surely told the world about the wide chasm that separates these two nations in terms of T20I cricket.
Of course, Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir carry on the attacking mantle initiated by Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid, who played such great roles in India winning the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Everybody batted at a strike rate of 150+ except Nitish Kumar Reddy, who played 16 not out off 15 balls. Eight bowling options in the XI was depth bowling with which India batted first, but overall for the team, it also stood out as a “happy headache,” as described by Suryakumar.
A contrast will be seen as Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was dismayed about his team’s inability to score 180 runs in the T20Is, which they have gotten used to playing at home, where matches often go low-scoring. Bangladesh will have to improve and look at a higher standard if the series is to be kept alive.
Key Players: Hardik Pandya and Najmul Hossain Shanto
Hardik Pandya, all set to take over as India’s T20I skipper when Rohit takes a break, almost wastefully chipped in with his batting while bowling four overs and one for 26 in Gwalior. He scored 39 runs in just 16 balls. He seemed to prove his worth to the hard-hitting Indian team.
On the other hand, Shanto’s innings were exactly everything that went wrong for Bangladesh. Batting at No. 3, he could manage only 27 runs off 25 balls, barely hitting a strike rate in T20 cricket. If Bangladesh are looking to try and look on the bright side of things, their captain must lead from the front.
India might also play Tilak Varma in place of Reddy and Harshit Rana for Mayank Yadav to give more players a go.
Arun Jaitley Stadium
The Arun Jaitley Stadium has always witnessed crackers of games as 200 runs-plus has been crossed over eight out of ten innings during the IPL 2024. It’s going to be a bright day with little possibility of the dew factor creeping into the match.
Stats And Trivia
Bangladesh won only once in 15 T20Is played against India, and they lost 14 times. Their record against South Africa is the worst. They have never beaten South Africa and have won only nine out of nine T20Is.
Suryakumar Yadav hits an average of 2.01 sixes per inning in T20 cricket. He sits among the top levels.
Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh are in fourth and fifth position on India’s all-time T20I wicket list.
Liton Das is 53 runs away from the milestone of 2000 T20I runs, and Shanto is 65 runs away from reaching 1000 runs.
Probables Of Both Sides
India Probable XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy
Bangladesh Probable XI: Parvez Hossain Emon/Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
The onus on Bangladesh will be even higher to stand up and elevate their game in those key situations since India would be itching to maintain their winning momentum.
